Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles A good Powder for .223?

I had some 8208 XBR on hand and read somewhere that it worked well in a 223. I had shot all that I had loaded, so I thought I would try it. I had an accurate load worked up b-4, but with some load work up I found a load that shot even better.
After that, I have been using it in my .222 and 222 mag. Great accuracy in all 3 cartridges.
QM

I burn lot of 8208 and several cartridges.. temperature in sensitive similar to varget and much better flow and metering than varget ..

Its harder to find a powder that won't do well in a 223, than to find one that is better than most of the others...

a 223 is sort of like a old VW Bug.... they got good gas mileage regardless of what type of fuel you put in them.

I've had good luck with Win. 748 and TAC. Of the two, It seems to me that the TAC meters better and burns a bit cleaner but one of my .223's and a .300 Savage prefer the 748.

Good thing too since I believe I have about 12 pounds of 748 stashed away.

Lots of powders work in 223. Surprised that CFE 223 hasn't come up. It's a personal favorite with bullets 50-75 grains.

The powder I use most for 40 grain jacketed bullets is Titegroup. 6.5 grains is accurate, consistent, and works great for killing rabbits, coyotes (within 200 yds), and ground squirrels that anger me enough to put away the rimfire.

I worked up the load to speed along the kids' ability to shoot from field positions, since it has negligible recoil. They shoot a lot of them. I chrono'ed the load a couple years ago, but I don't recall the speed. Mid-2000's.

CFE 223

Since this old thread has been brought back to life, I’ll say this….I have switched from Benchmark to TAC. All I load in 223 anymore is 50 or 55 gr. Bullets, so TAC works great.

Whatever you use do not use H4895 it sucks in 223, all cartridges for that matter. In fact if you have any H4895 you can just sending it to me and I’ll dispose of it properly. 😉

50-55gr get either 8208 or benchmark POI is very close to each other with near max loads.

thanks HuntnShoot,

I don't recall trying that one... I've got a pound or two of Titegroup...

I'll have to give it a whirl...

Man can't have too many tools in the tool box, nor too many loads in the old noggin... especially for the old 223.